2 Mountain Infantry Division Sforzesca
Encyclopedia
The 2 Mountain Infantry Division Sforzesca was an Infantry
Division
of the Italian Army
during World War II
. The Division was mobilized in June 1940, for the Italian invasion of France. In the took part in the Greco-Italian War
in 1941. It was then chosen to be part of the Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia
in June 1942, and was transferred to the Eastern front
. It suffered heavy losses on the Don early 1943 and was withdrawn to Italy for reforming in March. It absorbed 157 Infantry Division Novara which had been a garrison division and elements from other units.
It surrendered to the German forces in September 1943.
Mountain Divisions are not to be confused with the "Alpini" specialized mountain troops. The Mountain divisions had pack horse artillery instead of the usual towed type.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
Division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
of the Italian Army
Royal Italian Army (1940–1946)
This article is about the Italian Royal Army which participated in World War II.The Italian Royal Army was reformed in 1861 and lasted until 1946. The Royal Army started with the unification of Italy and the formation of the Kingdom of Italy . It ended with the dissolution of the monarchy...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The Division was mobilized in June 1940, for the Italian invasion of France. In the took part in the Greco-Italian War
Greco-Italian War
The Greco-Italian War was a conflict between Italy and Greece which lasted from 28 October 1940 to 23 April 1941. It marked the beginning of the Balkans Campaign of World War II...
in 1941. It was then chosen to be part of the Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia
Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia
During World War II, the Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia was a corps-sized expeditionary unit of the Regio Esercito that fought on the Eastern Front...
in June 1942, and was transferred to the Eastern front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
. It suffered heavy losses on the Don early 1943 and was withdrawn to Italy for reforming in March. It absorbed 157 Infantry Division Novara which had been a garrison division and elements from other units.
It surrendered to the German forces in September 1943.
Mountain Divisions are not to be confused with the "Alpini" specialized mountain troops. The Mountain divisions had pack horse artillery instead of the usual towed type.
Order of battle
- 53. Infantry Regiment
- 54. Infantry Regiment
- 17. Artillery Regiment
- 4. Mixed Carabinieri Section
- 5. Motorized Carabinieri Section
- 53. Flak Company
- 302. Flak Company
- 2. Anti-Tank Company
- 70. Anti-Tank Company
- 121. Anti-Tank Company
- II Divisional Mortar Battalion
- 16. Pioneer Company
- 2. Telephone & Radio Company
- 1. Supply Company
- 2. Command Transport Unit
- 2. Transport Section
- 569. Field Post Office